Sweet Baby James

Vähän jäi taas ”yleisfolkin” tasolle 2/5

Täähän oli kiva, etenkin alkupuoli. Lopussa jotenkin leviää käsiin, vähän epäonnistuneita kokeiluja. Jää nyt siis kolmeen.

Kaunis ääni eikä liiaksi pituudella pilattu, että ehtisi kyllästyä. 4/5

What is there to say about James Taylor. Lovely instrumental arrangements. Melding country, folk and rock. His voice…whispy but strong. An album that doesn’t really want to be skipped and shouldn’t. Each song is a new tale, told expertly by a storyteller of the most high. Well done Mr. Taylor!

Meh. Didn't hate it but not likely to be coming back

4(+)

Lovely album - not quite perfect, but close.

At one point James Taylor says he's going to play some rocks and roll for the audience. This is a lie.

James Taylor is good. “Fire and Rain” is rare in its ability to somehow help us find perspective in our own lives, though the words may not apply. My first experience with this album—Taylor’s take on “Oh, Susannah” left me considering the lyrics for the first time, as well as his formula for creating music that draws an emotional response. I decided that I would not want to see behind that curtain, and will continue as I was. I hold the public persona of James Taylor in high regard. This is an album to own on vinyl. A worn out sleeve and pops and crackles preferred.

I felt the rock.

Released in 1970, James Taylor's "Sweet Baby James" is a timeless masterpiece that continues to captivate listeners with its soulful melodies, introspective lyrics, and Taylor's signature soothing voice. This album is a quintessential representation of the singer-songwriter genre, and it remains a cornerstone of Taylor's remarkable career. From the moment you press play, "Sweet Baby James" transports you to a different era, one characterized by introspection, storytelling, and a deep connection to the human experience. The album's title track, "Sweet Baby James," is an instant classic, setting the tone for the entire record with its gentle guitar picking and Taylor's warm, heartfelt vocals. The song's lullaby-like quality makes it an enduring favorite for both longtime fans and new listeners. The album's lyrical depth is a testament to James Taylor's songwriting prowess. "Fire and Rain," arguably the most iconic track on the album, delves into Taylor's personal struggles with addiction, fame, and the loss of a close friend. The emotional weight of the song is palpable, and Taylor's voice conveys a sense of vulnerability that is both raw and profoundly moving. "Country Road" and "Sunny Skies" showcase Taylor's ability to blend folk and country influences seamlessly. The former's catchy melody and relatable lyrics evoke a sense of wanderlust, while the latter's upbeat tempo and joyful instrumentation provide a pleasant contrast to some of the album's more contemplative moments. One of the album's hidden gems is "Oh, Susanna," a whimsical and playful track that demonstrates Taylor's ability to infuse humor into his music. The song's light-hearted tone adds balance to the overall emotional depth of the album. "Steamroller Blues" injects a dose of bluesy energy into the mix, with Taylor's raspy vocals and the groovy rhythm making it impossible to resist tapping your foot along. It's a testament to Taylor's versatility as a musician. As the album progresses, songs like "Blossom" and "Anywhere Like Heaven" continue to showcase Taylor's gift for crafting evocative and introspective lyrics. His ability to turn ordinary experiences into profound moments of reflection is a hallmark of his songwriting. "Sweet Baby James" is an album that feels like a comforting friend, always ready to offer solace and understanding. James Taylor's voice is an instrument of solace itself, offering a soothing balm to the soul with every note. The album's production, marked by its simplicity and acoustic arrangements, allows the beauty of Taylor's songwriting and voice to shine brightly. In conclusion, "Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor is an enduring masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on the music landscape. Its songs continue to resonate with audiences of all generations, and its timeless quality is a testament to the enduring talent of James Taylor as a singer-songwriter. If you haven't already experienced the magic of this album, do yourself a favor and give it a listen. It's a musical journey that will touch your heart and soul in ways you won't soon forget.

Gentle acoustic numbers that sometimes feel a bit too safe. Taylors clarity of voice and decent acoustic guitar playing carry it along effortlessly, but a bit more variety would have helped. Even so, a couple if killer tracks in here.

I'm a fan. The songwriting is amazing. The actual performances are honestly a tiny bit too polished -- I think there's more emotion in some of the live recordings floating around -- but it's not like there's anything wrong with the capture on the record. Good inclusion if somehow someone out there had missed out on hearing James Taylor.

Liked Fire and Rain going into this album. Still too dul.

i enjoyed this album and didn't really know any of it (beyond oh susannah, and not his version) beforehand. "sweet baby james" is kind of a ridiculous name for an album but i won't hold it against him. i also think he has a sort of matt mercer look/vibe on this album cover. good stuff. favorites: sweet baby james, steamroller, oh susannah, fire and rain

Some nice bits but not something I'd enjoy much

The album was boring for me, but the last song is a banger

I really liked the last track but some of the other white boy blues songs were a bit cringey

Lovely songs, brilliantly crafted. Nothing for me stood out which I was expecting.

Pretty inoffensive stuff, light folky bluesy guitar driven fare. Not too much of interest but nice enough to listen to.

Rating: 6/10

Chill country, ta bueno

It was alright but definitely not a vital inclusion on this list

Please give me something good

.

90% of this was just the same cadence and tone, so I was pretty bored for the most part. There was nothing particularly bad about the singing or guitar playing, he just needed to throw a little something extra in here or there

Mmmm just nice 3

Obviously Fire and Rain is a classic. I’ve got to say, James Taylor singing Steamroller at 109lbs, with the energy of an elementary school music teacher is a tough sell for me.

It's fine. Not really my thing.

I wanted to hate this bc the negative reviews were excellent. This however hits for me. Not perfect or even unique, just good old fashioned folk country

Not my thing at all, but definitely the best of the country records so far. He’s got a nice voice too, doesnt grate. Starts off a bit cliche, but tells a good story. I’m usually bored stiffless after a minute or so of country but I found myself listening to this. Maybe this isnt country, hence why I can tolerate it. I swear Belle and Sebastian have a song very similar to Sunny Skies. I’m writing this as I listen to it, and each track does seem to build on the last and it’s remarkably decent. Oh it’s getting bluesy now. Having this like. Love the guitar in steamroller blues, I love that ‘dusty’ sound, somewhere between a clean lead and a bit fuzz. Sounds so effortless. There’s definitely some rubbish on this, but there’s also a lot of gems. Definitely a few I’ll return too.

Two songs in I had already written this guy off as more country landfill, even more annoying than most. As the album progressed it got bluesier and there were a few songs that were great. Hard to rate given there were songs that were dire and enjoyable. A 3 I suppose? But theres an EP in here that's a 4 and one that's a hard 1.

I'm a medium James Taylor fan - I have his JT album on LP (5 stars) and very vaguely know this one. A very easy listen, light instrumentation and simple melodies. I'm obsessed by songs not lasting too long, and the album is nice and snappy. I also enjoy when an album really encapsulates an era or genre, which this does. Sweet Baby James, Fire and Rain, and Blossom are my favourites, but I could (and have) re-listened to the album a couple of times. Country Road also stands out. 4.5 for me.

I didn't find much to like about this album, except for the Blues songs. "Suite for 20 G" is the perfect example of contrasting styles. Overall it is quite dull and inoffensive. Highlights: Steamroller Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me Suite for 20 G

Never heard of this guy before. It's all very nice sounding, but it's not very interesting and like a few of the public reviews have said, it's so sickly sweet. Nothing offensive, nothing too interesting either unfortunately. Steam roller blues was decent Thought the second half of final track, "suite for 20G" was the best bit! The more bluesy bits were the stand outs from the rest

Just seems appropriate to have a whiskey and watch the sunset on the deck. Really enjoyed this album. Really easy to relax to this.

The big hits were fun, the rest was a little country for me

I can't stand the title of this album. It just always struck me as cutesy and self-congratulatory, maybe? I don't know. But there is no mix of acoustic guitar and vocals quite like ol' sweet baby James here. And there's at least one song here that is indelible.

Everyone is wearing denim and buckskin. Someone has rolled a joint and it's being passed around. Desultory conversation. Maybe Harry Nilsson drops by with a bottle of wine, maybe Linda Ronstadt. In the corner a guy plays a song that features a walkdown from a Dsus4 chord and someone else says "right on." The sun is setting and the folk of Laurel Canyon are getting loose. A totally fucked scene. Anyway, this is alright. I like Taylor's fingerpicking and some of the songwriting is ace. 'Country Road' is great but sounds a little limp when compared to the harmony-heavy cover by obscure Brit-folk combo Unicorn - check it out. This is a nice, mellow time and given the right setting could even be a five star experience. By the same token, the hushed, earnest sincerity of Sweet Baby James has the capacity to harrow. Three stars.

I feel like this album would be a lot lamer if Sweet Baby James didn't have such a nice voice. We have applied the Sweet Baby James.

Sort of slides away in a pleasant way.

Now look, it's James Taylor. He's great! A classic! He's also very much "your dad's music." There's also something about this era of music that eagerly pushed for unearned Blues songs that sound great musically, but still seem flat. I can almost see the drunk middle-aged housewives poorly dancing in front of me while clapping their hands over their heads out of rhythm and shouting "woo!" throughout the whole song while I listen to these two out-of-place tracks on the album. This may be an overly harsh and undeserved criticism towards Mr. Taylor's musically capable talents, along with other artists from the same period who are guilty of the same crime, but it's hard not to recognize it for its oddly specific and nuanced framework when it has been imposed upon your formative days without consent. Overall, it's a solid production throughout, but starts to blend too seemlessly into each lull before a jarring tonal shift reminds you that there have been different songs playing this whole time. However, when Taylor hits, he knocks it out of the park. "Fire and Rain" is an undeniable classic that deserves a listen any time it comes on. 3/5

Little on the lame side - not my vibe :(

Honestly was a snooze. He was putting me to sleep at a time I wasn’t that tired so a little disappointing and boring. He was also a little country sounding so just a no for me. I do see why people would like him though, just not for me.

No idea whether younger generations can get into JT? But having grown up with this music and hearing it again here for the first time in ages is like a great time machine. You might not love the singer/songwriter genre but I'll fight you if you hate a song like "Country Road" come on. The singles here are borderline legendary even if they seem rather simple (which may be in terms of production but the songwriting is genius on "Fire and Rain" and the title track). A few missteps (e.g. "Steamroller" which kind of sucks, and "Oh Susanna" which is just an odd choice to include) knocks this down for me but the best is so enjoyable that it remains a keeper. 8/10 4 stars.

I enjoyed this. Emotive.

I know it's short but I still got a bit bored. Brought it back with suite for 20G.

3.5

Meh

Sweet Fanny Adams.

dear god james

loved some tracks had country folk blues and i liked it

This is barely a 3. If it leaned a bit more into the country sound, it would be a 2. It wasn't much to me, but it was a decent enough listen. I guess my favourite song was Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me.

3/5. It’s a nice album and it’s short and sweet but not anything groundbreaking. Some research revealed he made this album on $7500 which is pretty wild. Besides some hits, probably not gonna play the other ones.

Compact album with catchy, infectious tunes. I'll probably be coming back to this one

Fire and Rain is a classic. The rest is just nice.

En godkänd platta.

A good James Taylor album to relax and remember the only successful single, Fire and Rain.

alright, just ultimately too safe, conservative, and boring

I was only familiar with "Fire and Rain." I found this album really pleasant. I'm not usually into adult contemporary but this was nice.

I wanted to like it more than I did. I really like the sounds of James' voice and the simple acoustic instrumentation in most of the songs is very pleasant. Unfortunately so many of the songs just feel underwritten and don't really develop into much. 5/10

Beautiful soulful, country record. James Taylor has a great voice and surrounds himself by very complimenting musicians! This is one of my timeless favourites and a record I will cherish! 8,5 out of 10

Most tracks didn't stick out for me, but it was pleasant throughout. Standout Tracks - Country Road - Oh Susanna - Sunny Skies Listened 05/25/23 8/1001

Me he aburrido. Lo siento. Ya sé que es famoso para muchos pero no me ha interesado nada.

Chill, calm music to watch the world go by to.

Good!

Hadn't heard of James Taylor before. Had to google him to find out that he's supposedly a very beloved and "one of the best-selling artists of all time", but I don't quite get it I think, at least not judging from this album. I think the recording sounds very good technically for being 70s, but the songs sounds a bit like generic country to me. Nothing wrong with that, it wasn't bad, but don't really stand out to me either. Maybe it was something you had to experience when it came, not sure.

Nice singing. All in all a very cozy album where you just want to vibe with a cup of coffee. Adding to this there are some truly great tracks such as Fire and Rain. The whole album feels a bit safe though, I miss a unique pull such as the earlier John Prine album where the lyrics were hypnotizing.

Music is pretty good. Listening environment today was p bad tho.

It's fine, absolutely not my type of music. A lot of the songs follow a similar structure and sound very similar.

It's a lovely peaceful album; the bluesy numbers seem a bit incongruous with his voice, it's the gentle melodic guitar based songs that really speak to me on this album. Really liked it and would listen again, like an ageing hippy.

Not something I would usually go out of my way to listen to, ended up enjoying it more than I expected.

There are several really excellent songs on here. "Fire and Rain" is gorgeous, one of the true great songs of the 1970s. I've also long been a fan of the title track. The best songs are elegantly arranged and pleasant to listen to, with a nice contrast between sweetness and ennui. The worst songs lean to the hokey and James' attempts at the blues are just kind of dumb. On balance, this is still a pretty great album, which gets better on repeat listenings. Fave Songs: Fire and Rain; Sweet Baby James; Country Road; Anywhere Like Heaven; Blossom

A safe choice

Det var harmløst, men kan ikke huske en eneste sang.

wow! white boy blues! hes good at guitar. licks for days, blues riff bohnanzas, singstravaganza. white boy blueeeesssss. silly a bit though. you know im right.

Me gustó. Cuando ví la portada, por alguna razón, esperaba que fuera un buen álbum y quise escucharlo lo antes posible, pero en cuanto me di cuenta de que era Country, me asusté un poco, ya que el último álbum qué escuché de este genero fue Being There de Wilco, el cuál me pareció tan lento que ahora me da miedo explorar el genero. Por suerte para mi, termino siendo más digerible de lo que esperaba y, aunque tampoco me pareció la gran cosa, cumplió con lo suficiente para darle 3.

“I am a napalm bomb for you baby”. James, you are barely a firecracker. You ain’t got an ounce of blues in you.

Great album and a great musician. Just that I've heard all these songs so many times that the album is mildly annoying and cloying.

JT's voice is angelic, yet he's got this super-phony smarmy feel to his music ... and listening to him try and sing blues is super-cringy. Despite my hatred for it, I was incredibly bored by this album. All I could think of were Sesame Street episodes where some famous singer comes on and teaches kids how to count by twos while playing guitar on the front steps ...

So rich and warm and full.

James Taylor's voice is a warm blanket, soft and cozy. I sang Sweet Baby James to my kids when I would rock them to sleep while Fire and Rain is my favorite James Taylor song. Even though I don't put James Taylor on much anymore, I know I can always go back and put this on and I'll have a friend to make me feel better.

Had never listened to this whole album before and it was delightfully cozy on a rainy Friday run. Had to dock a point because every time white musicians of that era try to get funky I can’t help picturing my parents and their friends trying dance and that’s a hard pass.

This is the finger picking guitar style I’ve always admired and wished I could emulate. JT’s delivery is smoothly soothing. I must have thought, “oh, this is my favorite track,” at least 5 or 6 times. Sweet Baby Jane, Sunny Skies, Country Road, and Fire And Rain stand out the most although most of the other songs are a mere tick below these. Oh, Susannah and Anywhere Like Heaven are my least favorite tracks, and I still enjoy them thoroughly. This album is as consistently good as most any album I can remember from the first 528 albums so far. There’s no dud, no song I’d rather not be on the album, which is rare I’ve come to learn. The only folk rock album I’d take over this one is Bob Dylan’s Freewheelin’.

This album hits home for me, it was on my parent's record player for a decade, then it was on my record player for years - shit my first born is partly named after James Taylor. ❤️

I don't feel strongly about this album one way or another. It was good. Fire and Rain is still a great song.

Good album, not my genre.

Heard already:)

Good to revisit, hasn't aged well though

I hate this so much. It's sugary and gross. Safe mom rock for the masses. A mention of weed is out of place I'll admit but this is as bland and American wholesome as it gets. And it sucks.

Not bad actually

Before today, the only song I'd ever heard by James Taylor was "Carolina in My Mind", which isn't on this record, so I knew I was in for a folk album, but was unsure how I would like it. Well, I loved it! James Taylor is very similar in musical attributes to John Denver, with that smooth country folk/blues style. This music tells a story. You can sit back, relax, sip a coffee, and be taken on a trip by his lyrics. James has a way of painting the most vivid pictures through his songs (especially the songs Sweet Baby James, "Oh, Susannah (which I know is a cover, but he does a phenomenal job of it), and Country Roads to name a few). I absolutely love this type of music. It instantly removes all of the stress from my life, and for half an hr, all of life's hardships melt away. I will 100% listen again! I don't know why I slept on James' music for so long! This album is going to be put in regular rotation now!! Favourite songs: Fire and Rain, Anywhere Like Heaven, Sweet Baby James, Steamroller, Country Roads, Suite for 20 G, "Oh, Susannah", Lo and Behold Least favorite songs: if forced to pick, Sunny Skies 5/5

Was er macht, gefällt mir recht gut, das Album lahmt allerdings etwas. Steamroller Blues und Oh Baby, Don’t You Loose Your Lip On Me sind für mich Highlights. Trotzdem noch keine drei Sterne.

I found his voice lovely on the country tracks but thin on the blues.

Was expecting a classic. It’s not. But it’s short. Can’t beat short

God it sucks sooo badddd

This album and Taylor in general are the anti-gonzo - The compromise between actual rock and the easy listening take-it-safe-just-do-what-everyone-else-is-doing mentality that was used to poison the counter-culture movement of America in the last half of the 20th century. Its the lowest common denominator of music for a bunch of disillusioned hippies finally realizing in 1970 that they werent ever going to get any of that freedom and consciousness expansion shit they thought they were going to win 5 years ago. I feel like I should maybe rate it higher just because its finally not a britpop album on this awful list, but I cant bring myself to give it better than a 2. 2/5

ta bn verga

It's perfectly pleasurable.

I was surprised how much I liked this one.

The blues songs don't do a lot for me -- no surprise there -- but his folky and jazz numbers do.

rgenf

Two good songs and then bluuuurgh

was really enjoying this at first, but the back half is a real dud. sorry james ⭐⭐

basic folk album

Country Road, Fire and Rain, and Suite for 20G.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Great relaxing voice, amazing acoustic guitar. Fire and Rain and Baby James are all time classics and Suite for 20 G is a hell of a bop. Just a really soothing listen almost from start to finish... Steamrolller is just embarrassingly bad. It didn't fit with the rest of the album at all, took me out of the vibe of the rest of the songs. I just don't think James Taylor can really pull off a "I'm going to fuck you like a steamroller" sort of song. Awful stuff

Real pleasant surprise, wasnt expecting to like this quite as much as i did. Just a great voice and nice calm music to listen to.

cute. 7/10

A beautiful folk rock album

I went in expecting to dislike this but found it shockingly pleasant. He has a good voice and there's enough variety in style and instrumentation here to keep it interesting. I'm not sure how often I'd seek this out but I wouldn't complain about it being on for sure.

It's fine. He sounds nice, but the songs are fairly bland.

it's not in my favorites

james taylor singing White Guy Mellow Acoustic Songs: good job. no notes. james taylor singing the blues: WHO DIPPED THESE RIBS IN MAYONNAISE

Such an iconic voice. Standouts: Sweet Baby Jane, Fire and Rain, Country Road Others: Lo and Behold, Sunny Skies, Steamroller, Oh Susannah, Blossom, Suite for 20 G 4/5

Not exactly my thing, but this guy's voice is great. The songs were pretty much a good length. Not a fan of the name of album itself, though. Fave track(s): Sunny Skies, Steamroller, Blossom

great, amazing blend

This may seem a bit soft by today's standards but, at the time, to vocalize words we couldn't otherwise express, the girls had Carole King with Tapestry and the guys had Sweet Baby James. Open any school year book from the era and both will be liberally sampled to represent the youthful sentiments of the day.

When I think of the career defining album of James Taylor, it's only, Sweet Baby James. Not only it his top selling, critically acclaimed and highest charted album (?), it's also his most consistent and memorable. If you're new to Taylor, skip the greatest hits record and start with SBJ. It contains his most classic songs before he became boring and self-indulgent.

Chill music.

I gave this a lot of listens as I suspected it would be one that grew on me more than it did. It's generally decent and there are a couple of great tracks, but not as good as I'd hoped.

Pretty good

He has a beautiful voice, but all songs on this country blues pop album are very slick honeyd and smoothed over. It feels empty. I didn't hate it, but also didn't really like it

Ritmo tranquilo, pausado, relajado. Cantautor con algún toque country. Poco acompañamiento en las canciones

Wow. Man was I wrong about James Taylor. This album is so good. I love the variety of genres he dapples in. The beautiful fingerpicking guitar throughout on the slower songs. It was perfect.

First of all, “I’m a steamroller babe, I’m ‘bout to roll over you.” It was a folk album, until it wasn’t. That’s all you need to know.

Mellow vibes and Taylor has a pleasant folksy voice, but not much variety.

This album has a song I think is very good and I do like very much but just hurts to listen so I don't really ever seek it out. The opening verse, they let me know your gone and the part of writing this song, but not remembering who to send it to just makes me want to cry. It makes me thinks of those people and things you love so much but are gone and you know they will never be part of your life, ever again. Can't explain it, but this song just hurts bad and I feel like I can feel his agony...... Ok, enough of the deep stuff. This album not really my thing, but Taylor does have a great voice. Thought most songs were similar, not quite country, not quite all folk. I did like Steamroller Blues and Suite for 20 G bcause they were different and showed he has a lively side to him. I also though Country Road was decent too, but nothing really off this album I would download. I'm still going to give the album a 3, mainly for Fire and Rain. It's not a song I seek out but a song that really generates some pretty deep feelings and thoughts. 3

It's one of my goals to understand singer/songwriter and acoustic stuff so I went into this with as open of a mind as I could. I think this was a good step. I don't fully understand the draw but I did really enjoy the drums and the more bluesy tracks. I tried to pay extra attention to the lyrics and thought almost all of them were kinda stupid. Still not my bag but I'm learning at least! A light 2.5. Maybe more like 2.3.

2.5 Really wanted to make a Simpsons reference and open my review with “Wow, former president James Taylor!”, but someone already beat me to that, so I’ll refrain. I’ve always liked Taylor’s voice, but I’ve never found any of his music overly interesting. I guess it’s fine easy listening stuff, but it doesn’t really seem to have a ton of personality to it, so I don’t usually walk away with any lasting impression. Fire and Rain is a perfectly fine acoustic track, but never something I jump to. I did enjoy Country Road a bit more than I remembered in past listenings, but then found the guitar work on Oh, Susannah immediately after really annoying, and while Steamroller Blues was a nice take on the specified genre, I found his second stab at it on Oh Baby, Don’t You Loose Your Lip on Me to be kind of cringeworthy. Had a bit more diversity of sound to it than I expected, but nothing that really changed my existing opinion. Not a ton to say beyond that - one of the most “okay” artists out there for me.

Yes! This was great, I’ve only heard Fire and Rain before. Really nice acoustic songs and powerful harmonies.

A more apt title for this album could have been "Sweet Baby Jams" for how smooth and kind-sounding this album is. Unlike most boring albums, James Taylor's outing here does keep a sense of interest throughout. The album is good enough to deserve its play, and if one were to rate this album on just its listenability, James Taylor certainly earns high praise just for that. Sure, one may not need to listen to this album, but they should at least get to hear it and decide for themselves.

My wife and I used to listen to side 2 of this record going to sleep for several years. We'd turn it on and fade away to the smooth timber of his voice and the lovely Travis-picking. It's a great songwriter's record. These are simple songs elevated with great guitar work and smooth effortless voice. There are few things as organic as that and James was probably one of the best. People forget that he was around the Beatles early on and influenced their songwriting, even directly inspiring "Something" by George Harrison. Also, he's one of the most underrated guitar players on the planet. Listening to Lo and Behold off of this record is an absolute master class in finger-picking and writing two completely separate guitar parts that can be played independently and still sound like the song enough to play and sing to, but when played together blend so perfectly that they almost sound like a single piece. Perfect. Story-time: In the summer of 2002 while I was in college, on a lark, my aunt bought me a ticket to see James Taylor live. She knew I liked music and was a bit of a hippy, so she thought that was appropriate. She's... not real hip. I went alone b/c no one else wanted to buy tickets and I was the only person under 60 at the show. Let me tell you, JT and his band were absolutely fantastic. So much so, I bought solo tickets to 6 other shows on the tour and followed him down the I-10 corridor from Jackson to New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio over the next 10 days or so. It was during the summer and I just stayed with college friends along the way. So, the summer after freshmen year in college while my friends were all living it up on summer vacation or following Widespread Panic or gearing up for Phish's imminent reunion or whatever college freshmen do, I was following James Taylor. I was not very cool.

James Taylor was probably some of the first music I listened to. Like, from a time before my long-term memory was forming.

Somehow, I've never listened to James Taylor before, but I certainly know about his impact on the industry and how revered he is be so many. This is incredibly pleasant, i'm really enjoying it. I particularly love the acoustic work.

Laying the groundwork for his cameo on The Simpsons. (I was going to leave it at that and give this a 3... but then the second half of the last song ruined it. Literally removing a star because of the last two minutes of "Suite for 20 G".)

This was a difficult one to rate because some songs are *really* good but others are just generic melodies with honey syrup. More blues and grass would have been a better choice. However, in the end the album manages to encapsulate the 70s as a whole.

Beh album for me, had some good stuff but not really my jam

It was alright, easy listening

Too s0ft

Actually enjoyed the first half more which seemed like typical country music. If it had all been like that it would have been a 3.

Nice easy listening album, propped up by Fire & Rain, which is exceptional and reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer goes into space, which is a classic.

I think I sometimes have trouble getting past things that are too earnest. No denying the incredible guitar playing and equally perfect voice. Does earnest = bland?

If you hate this you also hate joy and beauty

This is clearly good but just leaves me a bit cold. Best song Fire and Rain.

He has a good voice, but it's boring to me

4,5. I dneska to zní moderně.

Can't tell if I've heard any of this before. Feels like I have. Nothing bad at all - doesn't stand out but hey. Kinda nameless soft country rock stuff. 3/5.

Sure, this singer-songwriter folk/country rock album has classic status and so naturally belongs to the list. It is in my album collection, but when I listened to it a few times today, I just found the overfamiliar songs a little bit too boring to give it more than 3 stars.

This was a pleasant listening experience, smooth and subtle. Really not much to say against it.

Nice easy listening album

Essential singer songwriter record. The couple of blues tracks and the moments with big band horns didn't really age as well as the rest, but the straightforward folk/country rock songs are sweet, smart, and relatable. Definitely a timeless album and very nostalgic for me, reminds me of sitting around the house or riding in my mom's van as a kid.

Something annoying about listening to a white man sing the blues, but this album isn’t bad from a songwriting/production standpoint.

Like 3 unbelievably great songs and the rest is only ok.

So this is a first time I have listened (or heard about) James Taylor, and I have to admit, there is a small chance there will be a second time. James has a beautiful voice, which he uses accompanied by a soft guitar melodies - not quite country, not quite pop, just whatever lays down on the bottom of his heart. And truth to be told, our hearts don't have too much in common. I understand why someone might like it, and why this album is on the list, but I think others would also agree that this music is not for everyone.

Not my thing, okay for one listen but probably wouldn’t go back into it.

Eh folk. It’s okay.

The album does not seem like anything special, as it is just like any other sugar coated mum-country, which I have grown so sick of in modern country, but 50 years earlier

Didn't overstay it's welcome. I liked most of it well enough but the big band tracks didn't land for me.

I liked this. Come back to this album at some point for another listen

Solid folk album, 3.5

Melancholy Monday with JT

3.4/3.5 range. Nice

This is pretty mellow for my liking. It also is my first James Taylor album. I know him. Never listened to him though. Not bad. Not something I’d be to interested in listening to regularly. It feels timeless and dated at the same time. ‘Fire and Rain’ is a great song. But that’s about it for me on this one. For a greatest album, I feel like it should have more hits or really sticky songs. Cormac called it pleasant. But why am I listening this country stuff? 3.5/5 75/100

Always had a soft spot for some of his songs growing up but paradoxically, now older me didn’t connect.

Euh rustig, christelijk?

gostei do som da bateria. Eu conhecia o nome dele, mas acho que nunca tinha ouvido. Gostei do som, do estilo. Dá pra ver de onde muitos outros artistas de Folk Rock mais recente se inspiram,

Meh. Found it hard to even grasp at this album.

Thanks to this album, my days of finding James Taylor aggressively uncool have come to a middle. I'm giving him two stars instead of one because someone has to make music suitably bland for elevators and lobbies, and he fills that role with aplomb.

James Taylor has a soothing voice, but his music is far too easy listening for my taste.

Nice easy way to start the work week. Not a huge fan of James Taylor, but this was fine.

That was just a really good album. James is very talented songwriter and, while I'm not a fan of steel guitar, the performances were pretty great as well. I kept finding myself wanting to dislike it because it felt a bit cheesy... But I couldn't dislike it. It just has such a nice vibe that it's hard to dislike.

Just right for me

Great guitar tone, great voice, reverent to the Americana tradition without feeling derivative. If you like James Taylor, it’s a winner.

james taylor is a bit of a musical blind spot for me, and i wish he wasn’t, because this is excellent. great vocals, great guitar, the bit with the horns was super cool. just a great album.

Acolades have been thrown at this album and James too as a master songwriter. I remember my auntie had this in her collection and it's beautifully written, played and produced but for me there's a lot of artists and albums out there with more integrity. Very disappointed listening through - it's insipid and bland. Easy listening wallpaper is all i'd rate it for.

Nice enough

Essential album, loved it from start to finish.

Fire and Rain is one of the greatest songs. I remember the first time and with whom I heard it the first time. Good memories. And, Carol King playing piano.

First album I ever owned(so long ago)…always will be one of the best

Liked it a lot. Fire and rain is brilliant

Fine and sweet and on doubting the lullaby appeals of title cut and "F&R" but oh so soft, like to the point of deteriorating. Bing Crosby would have been a more convincing bluesman. "Suite for 20 G" feels similarly out of place, with the add-on horns and electricity. Fine balladeer though he was, JT definiitively did not rock and could not wail and sounded silly trying to.

The folk pop songs on this are pretty great. The "blues" songs are not.

I've not heard any of James Taylor music before, but this specific album is very easy to listen too. It's a bluesy-country-folk fusion, and while the country heavy stuff like Sweet Baby James & Anywhere Like Heaven didn't really click with me, the more blusey offerings of Lo & Behold, Steamroller Blues, and Oh Baby, Don You Loose Your Lip on Me were wonderful discoveries. The big hit, Fire & Rain, was just fine for me. It doesn't really have the same highs as the songs I enjoyed more from this album. Overall, this album was more miss than hit for me, but it was a breeze to listen too, and pretty chill despite the "hopelessness looking for hope" vibe of the lyrics.

Fire and Rain guy

Прослушано! Хороший альбом, мелодичное кантри, спокойно и приятно слушать.

Fantastic album....could listen to JT all day. Love his voice and his style. This one contains some of my all time favs. 4.5/5

This album gets 4 stars for the HOF Fire and Rain alone, with Country Road another good track. But it’s not an album that keeps my interest from start to finish and for that, 4 stars.

Listening to this album made me feel like I was watching an episode of Sesame Street for some reason. This is super country. It’s not like the rock country or the blues country or even fiddle country. This is just straight living in the Appalachians with a hand crank well pump in your front yard and an outhouse. If you like that, listen to this album. It might be too heavy for you though.

Kesä. Kalja. Terassi

I can't rid myself of the association between James Taylor and being at the dentist and the inevitable pain after having my braces tightened. Which I had managed to mostly block out until I listened to this album.

Great production, great songs. It feels weird to give it 5 stars because I don't particularly find it groundbreaking, but it feels like a flawless record.

Oh Sweet Baby James, you sinister, demented villain. Laying your sappy brand of sap upon the world with merciless vigor, coating the masses in a film of safe, gentle sweetness. The world is stagnant because of you, failing to venture into richer realms of funk and rock, treading circular to nowhere, listening easy and listening safe, the soft drips of the acoustic dragging them all to the ground day by day, with each adult mix blend station play. You and your gaggle of singer/songsucker demons not only won the mid seventies, but irre-“vocally” tainted the hearing skills of so many for ages to come. I will not succumb to it. In my mind sunny skies are not a persons name but an adjective and plural noun. I refuse to be bewitched by your light voice and simplistic stylings, I find refuge in drum beats, in guitars electric, in songs not stupid. You have dulled the souls of millions, Sweet Baby James, but you will not weaken mine, for I too have seen fire and rain, and I know the truth of them. Fire is hot and rain is wet. You, Sweet Baby James are mild and dry.

Bit boring

I think James Taylor is a great songwriter and I initially thought I'd be giving this album a 5/5. The standout tracks on this album are massive standouts for me, however, this album actually has some skip tracks for me as well. Some of the more bluesy songs I'm not as into. If I could I would probably give this album a 3.5, though since I know how strong James Taylor's output can be I'll round up to 4. Standout Tracks: Sweet Baby James, Country Road, Fire and Rain, Anywhere like Heaven, Suite for 20 G

super chillig und schön, mit eingestreuten groovy songs

Fire and Rain is a classic but I don't really like anything else here. James has a pleasant enough voice but the songs don't interest me much, especially the bluesy stuff which is quite bad.

Nope

Hmm. ok. I guess his songwriting is good but nothing stands out to me.

Alveg ágætt, betra en ég hélt.

It's got the hits, stars for that but the rest was meh

Boring derivative rubbish

Easy. Nice. Short.

It's subtle. So subtle the sort of blues jam that would normally turn me off an album feels plaintive and kind of pretty. But also so subtle that it kind of slinked past me. I think it could be a grower, but just off today's listen, it's good, not great.

The original JT! So smooth. Iconic.

Så extremt boeing

It's stating the bloody obvious but I love the simplicity of singer songwriters. No clutter, no fuss. Just the songs and a stripped down approach to music. It's a very honest way of working and shows a great belief in your own talents. James Taylor carries this off effortlessly. There's a real mix of styles here, but the singer songwriter thing holds it all together. Some of the gospel reminded me of Alabama 3 - without the drugs; there was also nursery rhyme style chants that were oddly appealing. Steamroller Blues shows that JT has a sense of humour. I had no idea this was the original. I only previously knew the Elvis cover. Four stars on the first listen, probably five once I become more familiar with the songs.

Love James Taylor. This album has my favorite song by him, "Fire and Rain"

A bit of a nothing album

What an interesting album. James Taylor is a great songwriter with a very nice voice, but the style can get a little redundant to listen to after a minute. But then, out of nowhere, two big band tracks break up the monotony. I liked this a lot. Favorite track: Suite for 20 G

Not a Taylor fan

Man's got some tunes in him. This is not my kind of genre or anything, but I found it to be pretty chill background music to study to. Nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. The perfect 3/5 in my book.

симпатичное из 70х немного/много кантри

I did really enjoy this

Sweet, beautiful, melancholic and peaceful.

Most of the genre stuff - the folky, the jazzy soul, a Cowboy song for crying out loud- just doesn’t hit for me. The wrong voice. He sings well, the accompaniment is solid and professional, it just doesn’t quite ring true. Only the big hit really lands - Taylor needs to be a genre in himself.

Simple and fantastic! Great songwriting and he has a beautiful, effortless voice

This was a fantastic album. What a great voice and great songwriting. I don't know how this album could have been better so I've got to give it the coveted 5 stars.

I first fell in love with James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” when I was 10 years old watching Remember the Titans with my parents. After that I listened to more and more of his music and was amazed at his clean vocals and acoustic guitar. He mixes singer-songwriter with blue grass and blues. Even “Oh, Susana” he makes interesting. This is a near perfect album for me.

Great voice and songwriting. The country wasn't too country, the blues were fun, the rest was pretty good too.

This music is so smooth, it's like landing on a soft pillow. "Fire and Rain" is a very moving song, I've heard it many times and it still hits me when I hear it.

Seems like the most common way to get into James Taylor is by way of your mom and you grew up listening to it. That wasn't the case for me, so I have no special reserve of nostalgia for his music, nor does it strike me as being noteworthy in any particular way.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I’m all for this old school folk/country. It probably helped I was driving on a highway for most of it, so it just worked well.

I don't mind James Taylor in small doses, and some of this is good, Steamroller Blues is catchy for sure, but if you want a singer-songwriter who tells stories of America that are meant to be meaningful and resonant lasting beyond their respective eras, give me Springsteen ten times out of ten.

Just completely beige. Musically has no edge, lyrically even less. And it has the Jesus element.  It's a pleasant enough sound, so it gets to a 2, but doesn't warrant anything more, there's nothing of interest there.

Sweet (Baby James) album. Can't go wrong with JT. 4/5.

Sweet and enjoyable folk album. Nice soft rock elements. Though overall not an overtly memorable album, but still a good one over all!

No thank you. No..no thanks. There's genuinely no song on this that I'd consider listening to again. But I must concede he has a good singing voice, and plays his guitar well. I just wouldn't want to experience this album ever again.

Nah

3.5

Really liked this one

Pretty nice adult contemporary pop album. 3 stars

Simpatico, ma mi aspettavo John Denver e ci sono rimasto un po' male.

An enjoyable album, would be good on a road trip or a porch.

I just feel this is ok. Nothing terrible but nothing I find particularly memorable.

Very chill album. Only acoustic guitar through the entire record is a nice change of pace from some of the other albums. Most of these songs are good but other than Fire and Rain there wasn't really any stand out songs on here. Solid and relaxing 5/10

Love me some James

Classic.

Nice album. Enjoyed listening to it.

Nice to chill out to

Sooo good!

Much better than expected, and more variety too. A classic!

Steamroller was unexpected after the first three tracks, and demonstrates a potential for a greater variety of material. It is a shame that the album rests purely on standard country influenced ballads with the exception of Steamroller and Oh Baby, Don't you loose your lip on me (where he manages a very convicing Steve Miller impersonation). Not really in my wheelhouse but very competently done and worthy of respect on it's own terms. Can anyone explain why Fire and Rain has 250 million + streams?

James Taylor is a 70s pop musician. You listen to his half dozen most popular songs and you move on. But this is pleasant and nice. Nothing innovative or extraordinary, but patient and short with its sweet moments. I have a few favorites, and nothing I hated. Favorites: Sunny Skies, Fire and Rain, Blossom

Great music to ease your way into the day. Taylor's voice is so pure and rich and music is simple but beautiful. It goes to show you don't need autotune and digital effects when you have pure, raw singing and songwriting talent. Wish we had more music like this today.

I'm not into hippie folk music in general, especially when all the songs sound the same. I did enjoy 1 song though. Super boring overall

It’s a really decent folk-singer-songwriter album nicely surprised by it… Side one as a whole is amazing with the title track as an opener being an amazing display of his sound kinda reminding me a bit of Nick Drake; but this is nothing in comparison to the 3 track run of Lo and behold (an otherwise stander song but has an amazing “happy clappy chorus), the upbeat sunny skies (a song that sounds destined to be a single (which thankfully it was)) and the bluesy bash steamroller. Country road has to be one of the most instrumentally pleasing tracks that I’ve herd in a long time like sunny skies it sounds like a single. Ending the side is the short and tender oh Susanna. Fire and rain begins side two with this man’s best song a perfect mix of enjoyable yet passionate! Blossom is another banger instrumentally it’s so lovely. Anywhere like heaven is also amazing I love the picking on this one. The worst track ( oh baby, don’t lose your lip on me) follows ( luckily this one is fairly short). Suite for 20g is a brilliant closer a track that goes from sombre and folky to a “rock and roll” tune. It’s probably a 4, but very close to a 5.

The folk songs are alright - typical James Taylor stuff flowing gently in the background like a summer breeze. Nothing special, but something to entertain your ears. Sadly, there are also a couple of songs where he tries the White Man Plays THE BLUES(tm) routine, and as so often in these cases, these efforts fall completely flat. 2/5

Some classic tunes here. Fire and Rain, of course is an all-time great song. Country Road and the title track are also favorites of mine. I prefer the live version of Steamroller Blues, but this one is still fun. JT has a really great blues feel and throws it around in many spots. His jazzy bluegrass on Oh Susanna is another great example of his great musicianship.

So many memories of my childhood are tied up in this album.

Shit shit country bad boo hoo bad

09/25/22 Listened on the way back to SAT. Only one song I enjoyed. Thought it dragged. Beautiful Birthday weekend:)

People complain about the list having too much obscure Britpop, but to me the real issue is too much generic American country guff. Not bad, just exceptionally uninteresting.

a nice warming and comfy album, i'm just not too crazy about country music ig

not my cup of tea

Very pleasant, but not super exciting. He has a lovely voice, and moves in an engaging variety of styles, but the lyrics are a little simple and there's a slight lack of emotion at times. Enjoyable enough, and an artist I would be happy to hear again, but not one I can give a really high score.

More like 3.5 - some nice tracks, nothing knock out.

Not a long album, but packed with reliably good folk with blends of country and blues, interesting singing and overall good listening.

Enjoyable Folk-Country album with a great runtime that ultimately though fails to leave a lasting impression with any of its songs

Charming.

Is someone born in 1975 I grew up with James Taylor. My parents played this all the time. There was a time when I was very little when I loved it. Then there wasn’t much longer time when I hated everything about it. Now that I’m older I think I can say that I’ve settled somewhere in between. there are some all-time classic on the album. But it’s not something that I would like to pass on to my children

Yes it's sturdy songwriting and at least there's a band, but hard to get too excited about this now.

Great album, comforting vocals, standouts "Fire and Rain", "Sweet Baby James"

Warm and calming voice, Gentle soft rock, Easy listening

Ptite Bluegrass tah les fous qui m-a mis bien bien bien, je me sentais en Alabama au plus grand des calmes ! 3.5/4

Cosy and very sweet to listen to. Highly liked to listen to the whole thing.

Matig, beetje saai. Wel kort dus dat was mooi

Catchy stuff Really dig it all. Good voice and talented writer Chad stokes of the 70s

Classic album

Wasn’t bad

Love love it.

I loved James Taylor so much when I was a teenager. I thought he wrote the prettiest songs I'd ever heard, and that's still true in some cases--Fire and Rain is perfect melodic gorgeousness. His fingerpicking is just lovely too. But when I listen to James Taylor now, I can't help but think about that old Dennis Leary bit where he says that if people are allowed to sue metal bands for making their kids suicidal then he should be able to sue James Taylor for turning him into a pussy in the mid-70s. Like seriously, some of this stuff is so saccharine it makes my teeth hurt. "Blossom, smile some sunshine down my way! Lalalalalala!" <Barrrfffff!!> And he really should not be allowed to do Blues. "I'm a churning urn of burning funk!" No, James. No, you're not.

Never ever knew he existed! It’s ok, but middle of the road country blues.

The word that came to mind as I listed to it was "quaint", although I'm not sure that's quite right. By definition, quaint means "attractively unusual or old-fashioned," and this album struck me as neither unusual nor attractive. It was old-fashioned, sure, but rather staid and conventional. If Country Music and Elevator Muzak had a developmentally delayed lovechild, it might be named Sweet Baby James.

Boring

Love me some smooth as silk JT. Legend.

Comfortable and approachable. This album is meant for a warm, peaceful summer day. You could fall asleep in the shade, reflect on a past love as you stare at the leaves above you. There are passing storms and distant thunder but the world is short of threats and open to possibilities when this album is on.

Rolig bakgrunnsmusikk man kan ha på hyttetur. Litt religiøst. Ellers uinteressant.

Very jolly and easy-listening. light beats

James Taylor sounds like the epitome of the struggling artist. Couch surfing, basically broke when creating this album, and finishing the album well under budget. Heck, to complete the album and get his promised $20k upon completion, mashed together three unfinished songs into one that was cheekily titled "Suite for 20G". Overall it was an ok folk rock album, but didn't really have much to grab me. Best: Fire and Rain Worst: Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me

They don’t make them like the old ones anymore!

My dad once described James Taylor as “that guy who can’t wait to bring out his acoustic guitar at a party”. Not for me. Best songs: Sunny Skies, Blossom

Yes. Everything.

3.5/5

Much better than I thought. Listened twice and it generated some good follow-up

"Sweet Baby James" is the second studio album for James Taylor. James was essentially homeless at the time of the recording and this album made him one of the biggest singer-songwriters at the time. Descriptors are folk, soft rock, country and soft rock. You hear all that at different times. I guess I knew what I was in for, somewhat. This is very listenable and good even if it's not exactly my main style of music. Although, I'm not sure what my main style style of music is nowadays. It probably hits the spot with all the other styles of music I heard at Lollapalooza. I sure didn't come across a folk singer or a James Taylor there. The album starts with "Sweet Baby James and sets the tone with a folk song about a cowboy. "Steamroller" is more blues-focused with horns and is one of my favorite songs on the album. The first single "Fire and Rain" starts side two. Great lyrics and is the one song I think of when James Taylor is mentioned. I love the sadly beautiful piano matching the lyrics perfectly. The second and final single "Anywhere Like Heaven" continues the folk-style and the guitar gives this more of a country feel. The album ends with a more rockin' song "Suite for 20 G." A song he needed to finish for the album and is one of the best on the album with a great guitar jam and horns. I enjoyed listening to this album. It is solidly produced and musically executed. It is easy to see why it was successful. I enjoyed the more bluesy songs which I didn't expect. His voice fits perfectly.

Former president James Taylor may have the most pleasant voice of all time. Just a nice folk album to listen to on a rainy day. "Ant's huh? We had quite a severe ant problem at the vineyard this year. I had Art Garfunkel come by with his compressor, and we created a total vacuum outside the house, and we blew the ants out the front door. But I'm sure you high-tech NASA people could care less about our resort-town ways."

Love this album! Classic, sweet, fun...

I was ready to rate this low, but just got better as the album went on!

finding his feet

Grew up on this, the greatest hit songs are timeless, the rest are a bit weak but a 4 nonetheless.

Sonzao legal

Beautiful amazing album. The reason it's a 4 instead of 5 is due to the fact it has cover songs. I wish it was all originals.

No

Tranquilito y ameno. Esperaba que sonara como en los Simpsons y no me defraudó. 37 minutos tranquilos, de música suave con un par de canciones más movidas. No estorba, no me vuelve loco. Steamroller es la mejor del disco. 2.5 estrellas que suben a 3.

Se me hizo de lo más agradable que nos ha tocado del estilo singer-songwriter: una voz bonita y sin exageraciones, buenos arreglos para todos los instrumentos pero en especial para la guitarra, momentos un tanto blueseros mientras que otros son totalmente country y hacen una buen balance. Los puntos bajos fueron la carga religiosa (que es de esperarse en el género, zona y época) y la de "Oh, Susannah" que no logro tomar en serio.

first listen some great stuff here

Alright Prefs: Sweet Baby James, Steamroller, Fire and Rain, Suite For 20G Moins pref: Oh Baby, Don't You Loose Your Lip On Me

sorry but snooze